The End of Dissent: Counter-Terrorism and the Politics of Repression (Commentary)

Arena Journal 2004, Annual, 22

Arena Journal

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We have no reason to imagine that things of a serious nature could not occur in Australia. I've said that repeatedly. I hope I'm wrong. I hope it never does happen ... But we cannot afford to be complacent.' To say that our Prime Minister, John Howard, has become increasingly vocal in his dire prediction of a terrorist incident on Australian soil would scarcely be an exaggeration. In this well-stoked climate of fear and imminent threat it has been widely anticipated that we could see the emergence of a 'terror Tampa' during the coming election campaign, with obvious electoral ramifications. The Prime Minister was speaking soon after the arrest of Perth man Khairallah Al Bunajim, accused of plotting to kill supporters of Saddam Hussein in Iraq. Although Al Bunajim has not been charged with a terrorism offence, the Prime Minister said the case was a reminder that the terrorist threat in Australia was alive and well. Bunajim's arrest is one of several 'terrorism'-related charges in Australia since September 11 2001--two of them, Jack Roche and Al Bunajim, in Perth. Al Bunajim has been accused of conspiracy to murder, the murder to be paid for with money sent to his relatives in Iraq. The money was allegedly to be used to murder former Party members of the same regime against which our country has been waging war for more than a year. The leader of Western Australia's 4 000 strong Iraqi community, Mohammed Al Waily, noted that most of this community regularly send money back to relatives in Iraq. Many of them are now fearful that this will be construed as criminal, possibly terrorist, activity.